Nut-lock.



J. E. STRIETELMEIER. 'NUT LOCK.

AAPPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1912. 1,084,566. Patented Jan. 13, 1914.

ynlrr-: nl l' iiNrrEn sfrArns PA JOHN E. srR-IETELMEIER,

OFFICE.

or CINCINNATI, OHIO, AssIeNOR To THE IDEAL WHEEL COMPANY, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION O`F OHIO.

NUT-LOCK.

Losanna.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fateiited Jan. 13, 1914.

vApplication filed November 29, 1912. Serial No. 734,122.

new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks,l

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of nut locks, and it also deals with certain'unique securing devicesiulvantageously-applicable in connecting the spokes of wheels to the rim or hub thereof.

One object within the contemplation of this invention is to provide a fastening means operable by a wrench, that will be dust and mud proof and which will perform the otlicc of retaining the connection without be coming loosened, even under the excessive intermittent strains and vibrations to which a wheel is ordinarily subject.

A further object is to design a simple, yet effective arrangement, wl'iereby the spoke springs my be connected to the hub or rim by means of nuts Or bolts, as the case may be, and to. conceal the sharp edges of the polygonal surfaces thereof, whill at the same time providing for pull and instantaneous accessibility of the saine through a suitable socket wrench.

Other objects will be in part indicated in the'following specification and in part rendered Obvious from the accompanying drawings.

rfhis invention accordingly, consists in the features of construction, arrangements of arts herein more particularly described, ant in the extent of modification and range of equivalency indicated by the accompanying claims.

To facilitate the disclosure of this invention to those skilled in this art, it will suflice to expose the underlying essentials by way Of one embodiment thereof and to that end drawings of the form now preferred have been annexed and will be described in det-ail, and in such drawings like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figurelis a fragmentary elevation,partly in section, of a spring wheel embodying the features of invention herein disclosed and claimed. Fig. 2 is a vertical. axial section taken along` line 22, of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section of a portion of the hub and spoke connection. Fig. l1 s a top plan view of the nut locking plate. Fig. o is a section of the nut closure cap.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral 1 in- 'dicates a wheel hub, which is here shown keyed to the tapered end of a4 driving axle 2, which is in turn mounted' in suitable bearings in a conventional housing 3, said hub being retained by a suitable nut L1. A cap may also'b-e employed for the purpose of covering the nut 4. On the hub 1 may be arranged a brake drum G secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by having a tightA driving fitihereon, and further retained by means of a suitable annular flange 7.

Rigid with the hub 1, or otherwise firmly secured thereto, is a part 8 shown in fragmentary section by Fig. 1, and having a suitablycontoured periphery 9 against which are seated'the laterally bent sections or end iianges of the fiat spifings forming elements of thc spokes of thelwhcel. Each spoke'as an entity is of a petalshapc and is composed of two springs 10 and 11 respectively, the hub ends of which are provided with inturned flanges l, 13, that extend toward one another, but which preferably terminate with parallel edges short of the radial center line 14 of the petal-like spoke, as appears more. clear-ly by Fig. 1. To accommodate these iiangcs (which may depart from the spring proper-by a roundedy curve) the periphery of the member 8 preferably is provided with counter recesses, as indicated by 15, and, between the parallel end-edges of the spring flanges, the member 8 preferably also provides a ridge or low plateau 1,wliich is preferably centrally apertured to receive the threaded'shank of a retaining bolt 17, having a head 18. For the purpose of securing these springs to the hub member S, I have devised a novel organization having the two-fold capacity of protecting the heads of the retaining bolts against mud and keeping them in aclean condition, adapted for the instantaneous application of a socket wrench, and at the same time preventing the parts from working` loose under the eX- cessive vibrations to which the wheels are necessarily subject. This instrumentality is unique with me. and the use herein described will indicate the wide field to `which it is applicable.

A member 19, that may bedenominated a clamping member, is constructed, or so lated with respect to the ninrnber on which notation relative to that member which in i may conveniently be formed by means of a Referring to the drawings, 26 indicates a -member 19 is apertured toreceive the shank -depressible plate 23, having it is mounted,l as Vto be restrained against this instance is the member 8. Thus, 'the part 19 here assumes the form of an elongated .rect-angle having its bottom surface contoured to interfit withiianges 12, 13, of the springs 10 and 11 respectively, and bridge the ridge 16, and its sides preferably converge toward the axis of the wheel so as to have a proper clamping relation with the radial portions of the springs immediately adjacent the hub, as will be understood4 from the drawings. This straddle of the bolt 17, and it providesA a chamber 20 for the head 18 of such bolt. This chamber cup-like stamping 21 that is attached to the member 19, as by means of threads that are left-handed when the bolt threads are right- -handed or vice versa, so as to permit the stamping 21 to be turned only in a direction opposite to that affording a removal of the bolt 17. .This stamping has a circular opening in its top' that is bordered-by an inturned edge 22. Within this opening is a a hexagonal opening interfitting the head 18 of the bolt. Intervening between the inturned edge 22 and the adjacent nrim of the plate-23 is a means for restraining relative rotation between these parts, such as ratchet teeth, s0 that when the plate 23 is in the normal position, indicated by Fig. 1, it will be impossible forthe bolt 17 to unscrew, Without also turning the stamping 21, which, however, is impossible by reason of the character of its connection with the part 19. Wit in the chamber 20, and preferably carrie, by a iange or washer 24, is an expansible spring 25 that servesto keep theplate 23 in the -normal position shown. When, however, it" is desired to unscrew the bolt 17, to enable the part 19 to be removed, a socket wrench is applied to the head of the bolt, and the plate-23 readily yields longitudinally of theV slot before the advance of this wrench so that it soon becomes disengaged from the ratchet teeth of member 21 and the bolt may be unscrewed without interference.

The drawings also indicate another somewhat modified advantageous application of my unique attaching instrumentality, whereby the outer extremities of the Spring mem-- bers are secured to t-he rim of the wheel.

wheel rim constructed of channel-iron and on which is mounted a rim portion 27, that receives the tire. Interftting within the rim 26 is a wooden filling 28. At the point of attachment for each petal-like spoke, a bearing member 29 of brass or other relatively soft metal is countersunk, or other# Wise suitably secured to the filling member 28, and a bolt 30 is non-rotatably secured to the bottomV of the channel rim 26, or to the filling 28, and extends centrally through the plate 29. The outer surface of this plate 29 will be contoured in accordance with the construction of the springssecured thereby. Thus, in this instance, these springs are so bent as to enter into attachment with the rim at an angle of about 30, and at the point of initial contact with the bearing plate 29, such springs are preferably rounded, as indicated by 31, andthereafter, portion 32 extends preferably tangentially with the inner periphery of the rim and terminates in a reversely bent clencher edge 33, that is received by a corresponding channel in the block 29. It may be noted that the curve 34 ofthe block 29 is less abrupt than that normally providedby the spring, to leave a slight space therebetween and provide for a certain amount of iiexing of the spring, so as to preventr bending over a sharp edge and reducing crystallization. A saddle block 35 is arranged in the crotch formed by the springs 10 and 11, and is contoured accordingly and provides rounded edges 36, affording gradual flexing surfaces for the springs. lThis block 35 carries nut-locking features similar to those described in the "foregoing, but in this instance, the nut 37 directly engages the screw threaded lend of the non-rotatable bolt 30.

It will thus be perceived that this invenytion is well adapted to achieve the objects and advantages indicated in the foregoing and the features disclosed are capable of wide use and inay readily be modified to meet the requirements of different purposes.

The terms nut and bolt have been em-l ployed in an alternative sense, inasmuch as the elements are structurally interchangeable as appears from the drawings. b

To explain the manner in which I prefer to use the invention herein claimed, it has been necessary to reveal certain novel features of a spring-wheel structure all claims for which are reserved for another application.

Having claim 1. A structure of the nature disclosed combining a supporting member, a detachable -coperating member, a. screw threaded retaining device for drawing said members together, said device comprising a polygonal rotatable head mounted on said detachable member, a spring pressed locking plate interttjing with said polygonal head, 'and means rigid with said detachable member for normally restraining rotation of said locking plate, the latter being adapted to be released from said means by a movement toward said detachable member.

2. A structureA of the nature disclosed combining a permanently mounted part, a

described m f invention I detachable .member providing an open 130 chamber, a screw threaded part xaotatabljy` mounted in said chamber and adapedi-o be operated by a Wrench, a guard pate sldably ntertting with said part and adapted to interlock with said member when in outer poStion, and a spring normaly retaining said member in its interlocking posit-ion* JOHN E. STRIETELMEIER.

Witnesses:

OLIVER B. KAISER, EMMA SPENER. 

